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Sun Ra is one of the most respected, and perhaps most misunderstood creative minds in jazz music. To commemorate what would have been Ra’s 100th birthday, we’ve teamed up with Art Yard for a very special release. In The Orbit Of Ra is a new collection presented by the longest serving member of the Arkestra and current bandleader, Marshall Allen. Bringing together Sun Ra highights from over 25 years of music, the album is the first internationally released compilation to provide an introduction to the music of Sun Ra, all mastered from the original tapes.

Hear the pristine masters for one of our favorite Sun Ra tracks, “Plutonian Nights,” below, and an instant download of the track is available with pre-orders of the full album. Out September 22nd, In The Orbit Of Ra will be available on 2CD, 2LP and digital formats. Physical formats feature full interview with Marshall Allen along with rare and previously unpublished photos by Val Wilmer.

Pre-orders for the 2CD and 2LP editions are also available via the Strut Store.

With our Hardcore Traxx retrospective of the legendary Dance Mania Records out this week, here’s a chance to catch some of the original Dance Mania DJs on the road in Europe during the coming weeks. DJ Funk and Parris Mitchell hit Studio 80 in Amsterdam and Concrete in Paris (in a soundclash with Ron Morelli’s L.I.E.S.) this weekend and one of the original ghetto house legends, Jammin’ Gerald, echoes his legendary sets at The Factory with his first appearance anywhere outside of the USA on 21st February at Ääniwalli in Helsinki. Finally, Parris Mitchell joins another 4/4 legend, Jovonn, for an exclusive session at London’s Corsica Studios.

We have no shortage of reasons to love the Springtime: the long awaited thaw, blooming plant life, young love (or in some cases not so young…). But high on our list of favorite things about the Spring is Record Store Day, which this year falls on Saturday April 19th. Any occasion to celebrate independent music retailers, to create special vinyl-only treasures, and of course to get out there and hit the record bins is aces in our book!

This year we have two very special pieces for the Record Store Day faithful. First we have a never-before-released science-fiction soundtrack from the enigmatic Rodion G.A. We’re also following up our Hardcore Traxx collection with three more rare treats from one of Chicago’s great house music labels, Dance Mania.

For listeners who found our 2013 release of mostly unheard psychedelic / electronic compositions from obscure Romanian outfit Rodion G.A. to be a revelation, we have a treat for you. In the early 80s, Rodion was approached to create an electronic score for a science fiction feature based on a Romanian animated TV series. Rodion’s 15-minute prototype score was unfortunately shelved at a late stage and replaced with more accessible cues from composer Adrian Enescu, but the recordings survived, and it’s our pleasure to present the previously unreleased music on vinyl for Record Store Day 2014. Misiunea Spatiala Delta (Delta Space Mission) is mastered from the original reel-to-reel tapes and is limited to 1000 copies worldwide.

Dance Mania – Revival Traxx EP

Amidst the overwhelmingly positive feedback for our Hardcore Traxx collection of classics from Chicago’s Dance Mania label, several keen listeners expressed regret that even more music wasn’t included. We completely agree, which is why we’ve teamed up once again with Dance Mania for an EP that mines the deeper parts of the revered archive for three bona fide dancefloor burners.

The A-side is made up of two key cuts from 1994: Drewsky’s ‘Wigged Out’ (produced by DJ Deeon and mixed by DJ Milton) and Club Style’s ‘Spirit’ (recorded by Paul Johnson and Robert Armani). On the flip, we feature a previously unreleased cut from Parris Mitchell’s Rhythm II Rhythm moniker. Recorded at the same time as the classic ‘A Touch of Jazz’ in ’92, ‘Mellow Magic’ is another melodic, subtle house gem but was shelved due solely to a packed 12” release schedule on Dance Mania. Vinyl on this one is limited to 500 copies worldwide, available exclusively from participating Record Store Day retailers.

Enjoy supporting your local record shop for Record Store Day, and we’ll see you in the bins!

The distinctive synth sound that kicks off DJ Funk’s “Original Video Clash: Vlideo Clash II” should be immediately familiar to fans of classic house music. They’ve been sampled, mixed, and remixed countless times. DJ Funk’s 1995 version is build from Lil’ Louis’ 1988 track “The Original Video Clash” (also released on Dance Mania) though a debate over Louis’ involvement in the original production continues to be fought on blogs and YouTube comment sections. We’re happy just to dance to Funk’s faster, bass’d up take on a true Chicago house classic.

Brenmar is one of the members of today’s vanguard of electronic music who makes sure to represent Chicago to the fullest. Though he’s currently based in Brooklyn, his Chicago roots show clearly in his productions, mixes and collaborations. He’s worked with DJ Rashad, remixed a DJ Deeon classic, and his mixes and live sets are heavy on Chicago sounds, from house to footwork to the drill rap scene.

On his latest mix for FACT, Brenmar traces the evolution of Chicago electronic music, and of course there’s a healthy portion of classics from the Dance Mania camp. The whole mix is a fantastic listen. Turn it up, and jack your big booty.

Our Dance Mania retrospective Hardcore Traxx will be available February 11th 2014.

Coming 2014, we have a very special release on the way for lovers of quality original Chicago house music as we team up with the legendary Dance Mania Records for their first ever full label compilation, dropping on January 27th, 2014. Dance Mania has wielded its influence heavily across dance music since its first breakthrough club smash in ’86, Duane & Co’s ‘J.B. Traxx’, offering a raw, DJ-led alternative to the Chicago powerhouses of Trax and DJ International. Founder Ray Barney astutely released classic after classic during the early years – ‘7 Ways’ by Hercules (Marshall Jefferson), ‘House Nation’ by Housemaster Boyz (Farley Jackmaster Funk) and Li’l Louis’ debut recordings all helping to cement Dance Mania’s credentials.

Throughout its long history, the label never pandered to commercial pressures and the lure of the “hit”, focusing purely on the dance floor and the DJ. As styles changed and Chicago clubs like The Factory held sway during the ’90s, Dance Mania became a key player, unleashing uncompromising anthems like Robert Armani’s ‘Ambulance’ and ushering in ghetto house with Traxmen and Eric Martin’s ‘Hit It From The Back,’ as BPMs became faster and lyrics became ever more X-rated. A new wave of producers including DJ Deeon, DJ Funk, Slugo and Paul Johnson all appeared on Dance Mania, recording prolifically and honing the new ghetto style, stripped back and raw.

The label’s influence continues today. Daft Punk famously name-check a series of Dance Mania producers on their ‘Teachers’ track, featured on the album Homework and you can hear the label’s DNA through contemporary sounds as varied as Diplo, L.I.E.S., Brazil’s baile funk movement and Chicago’s modern day footwork producers like Nate and Rashad.

Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records 1986-1997 is released on 2xCD, 3xLP and digital download, and features a full history of the label by DJ Chrissy Murderbot, artist interviews, rare photos and track notes.